Share photos, start a business and more with easy-to-use online tools

These days, you no longer have to be a technology whiz to have your own website. In fact, it seems like everyone from your doctor to your kid's teacher has an online presence. The three user-friendly sites below prove there's a website generator for any need, whether you want to create a space to stay in touch with family and friends, experiment with selling crafts or launch a full-fledged business. Read on to find the best—and easiest––places to start your very own website.

Want to connect with your family online but don't love the impersonal feel of social networking sites? MyFamily.com lets you create an online place where you can share photos, information and plans with your loved ones in a more organized—and private––fashion. Each family member will get his or her own profile page with privacy settings where you can share info like photos, addresses and phone numbers. Family group pages make it easy to connect with one another, while discussion pages and a shared calendar option make planning family events much simpler. You also get a personalized URL, and their SiteSafe system backs up everything so you won't lose any priceless info. Prices start at $9.95 for the first year. Photo: courtesy of MyFamily.com

Think your signature brownies or hand-knit sweaters will be a hit with the masses? If you want to experiment with taking your small business idea online, check out Homestead. There's no need to be familiar with HTML or coding; just pick the layout that's right for you—they're organized by business type—and customize the look by dragging and dropping the images (you can upload your own photos or choose from their library of 250,000 images). Then add a PayPal shopping cart where customers can purchase your products. You'll get a personalized domain and email address, and you can easily publish your site to the Web with just one click. Prices start at $4.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. Photo: courtesy of Homestead.com

If you're ready to realize your entrepreneurial spirit via the Web, check out the Yahoo! Small Business site. They offer everything you need to create a professional-looking online store, including design tools, a simple inventory system and easy-to-follow shopping cart instructions and payment setup. They also give you tools to boost your sales, like coupons, gift certificates and discounting services. Once you're in business, you can review site traffic and sales numbers by accessing the clear and informative charts. And if you run into any problems, their 24-hour phone and email support can give you a hand. Their Ecommerce Starter Plan starts at $29.96 per month. Photo: courtesy of SmallBusiness.Yahoo.com